Retort-cover clamp



April 3, 1928. 1,664,972

D. w. DUDDERAR RETOR'I; COVER CLAMP Filed July 9, 1927 7 J I 0 j INVENTOR; I 15 3 k WC mudaluwv w BY ATTORNEY.

Patented Apr. 3, 1928.

UN T iosr T s PATENT oFFicE. 1

DANIEL W. DUDDERAR, OF MOUNT AIRYQMARYLAND.

, RETORT-COVER- CLAMP.

Application filed July 9,1921. seri rivo. 204,474.

This invention relates to improvements in clampdevices for covers of-vessels and is particularly directedto a quick-acting clamp for retorts or similar vesselsion whichthe heads .01 covers must be secured suliiciently to withstand internal pressures in the retorts.

One object of the invention is'to provide an improved construction of clamp device for retort-covers which may be-quickly operated because it is common to utilize a number of fastening devices on a single retort and considerable time is frequently -c0nsumedin attaching or detaching the fastenlngs, I

A-nother obje ctis to provide a clamp structure whichmay readily be'swung into position and quickly seated over thecover-edge to clamp .the cover is place.

A further objectv is .to provide an ilnproved clamp device which.will hold-the cover-seated against internal pressure up to a desired pressure but will yield when an excessive pressure is produced and permit a venting that will avoid bursting or: to theretort-structure. A still further object is to provide an improved jform of clamp for retort-covers whose clamping-pressure may be varied to suit the work the retort has todo. WViththese,;,andother objectsin view,in the-accompanying drawing is illustrated the invention, wherein f Fig. 1 shows the top of a retort with a series of the improved clamp devices arrangedabout the same and in clamping position. c U i I -Flg. 2 illustrates an enlarged sectional elevation showing the clamp and a portion ofa. retortas viewed onthe line 2+2 of Fig. 1.. Fig. 8 shows a front elevation of a portion of the clamp andretort, and I Fig. l i'llustratesa horizontal sectional detail through the-clamp device on an enlarged scale, showing the structure as it would appear-ifviewed on the; line 4'4L of Fig. 2.

Referring'to the drawing, the numeral 5 designates-the vessel, tanker. retort having a top edge 6 witha packing element 'i' there-w in and with 'a covcr or top 8 of anypreferred construction, but in this instance shown as hinged at 9, so as to swing down on,or up from, thetop edge 6 of the vessel;

The cover-has a. series of spaced lugs. 10

damage around its periphery forming a radial slot ,11 between each pair of lugs and directly beneath each pair of cover-lugs, when the cover is down on the retort, the wall of the latter carries two angle-lugs 12, between wlnch is pivoted one end 18, of a clamp-bar 14,.- the pivot-pin being designated 15 in the 18 extending centrally therethrough and of.

aLsize to permit the clamp-bar 14, to pass up ,therethrouglr- The actuating levers 16 have an operatingend 1-9, and a clamping-end 20 and between said two ends said lever is slotted as at 21, which slot-extends all the way from the clamping-end to a point designated 22 near the operating-end so that said levers 16 have two spaced jaws 23 which straddle the block 17. p

A pivot-pin 24, extends horizontally through the spaced jaws 23 of the actuating leverand: also through the block 17, and this pin also extends through a vertical slot 25,, which is provided in the clamp-bards.

It is thus to be understood thatthe actuating-levery16, block l'i'and slotted clampbar 14 are all held together by the cross-pin 24, but that the block and lever may have a vertical or longitudinal movement on the clamp-bar 14 within the limits of the slot 25 block. I

On the stem 26 and directly over the block, I provideacoiled spring 27, whose lower end seats on the top surface oi the block and over the upper edge of the longitudinal slot 18 therein, and on top of this coiled spring 27,.1 provide a second and larger coiled spring 28, but I interpose a washer 29 be tween the two springs merely to ensure a proper seat for the lower end of the larger spring against the upper end of the smaller sprlng.

A washer 30 is provided on the stem at the outer end of the largerspring EZSand an ad.- justing nut 31 is screwed onto the stem at the outer side of the washer. Y

The lower smaller spring 27, has very little movement from a closely compressed "condition, when the clamp is locked, as in Fig. 2 to its full open position whilevthe larger up per spring provides the clamping power after the smaller spring has been fully compressed until its coils are'brought together and this clamping power is brought into use at the extreme final tip-movement of the end 19 of the operating lever, as will presently be explained. Y

The lower ends of-the spaced aws 23, each carry a roller 32,which rollers are mounted on pins 33 whose centers are slightly forward of the centersof the pins 24, on which the levers are pivoted, consequently at the extreme final upstroke of the lever, when the clamping spring 28 is applying its force down on the block 17 and the arms 23 through the pin 24., the rollers v32, will just pass forward of the center of the pin 24 and snap the clamp-points 34 of the jaws down close on the top or the lugs 10 of the top. and

remain in the clamping position because the centers are out of vertical. alinement.

The clamp-bars 14 obviously swing into the slots 11 between the lugs 10 as the rollers 32, contact with the top surfaces of the lugs and rollfthereon while the lever is being swungup to the clamping position. 7

.By reference to Fig. 2, it willbe noted that the lower edge of the block 17 is convex. Thisienables this lower edge to readily ride overthe outer ends of the lugs on either the up or down movementofthe bar to or from the lug slotsll. "As the lever-ends 19 areswung 'down, the clamping-end 34 will swing slightly over the cover as the rollers 32 roll back under the center of pivot-pinQ i and during this movement, the pivot-pin 24 will be lowered, drawing the block down with it sufficiently to relieve the pressure of the springs. The lower end 16 and the upper end of the bar as well' as the block 17 thereon. may all be swung outwardly from the radial openings and then hung pendantly at the side of the retort while the cover is removed.

When the cover is restored, a reversal of the operation, to wit: swinging clampingbar 14: up into the opening onthe cover, 10- cating the rollers32 on thecover edge or the edge of the lugs with theblock over above, then the preliminary up movement of the lever end 19 will lift the block and compress the weaker spring until it closes, and

at this time, the centers of pins 24 and 33 will be practically in line. Then the farther 32. passes beyond the center of pin 24.

Having described my invention, I claim 1.'The combination with a retort vessel, of a coverhaving radial openings around its periphery, a bar pivot-ally attached to u the vessel below the cover and movable into the radial opening above its pivot-point,a i

clamping lever pivoted Withrespect to the bar above the radial opening, spring-means on the upper end of the bar and means operating between the spring-means and the clamping lever to. press the latter on the 2. The combination with a retort vessel, 3

of a cover having radial openings around its periphery, a bar pivotally attached to the on; the upper end of thebar, and a block through which the bar extends. said block being engaged by the pivot of the clampinglever and upon which the spring-means seats w herebyto press the blockdown and seat the clamping lever on the cover.

3. The combination with a retort vessel, of a cover for said vessel said cover having radial opemngs around 1ts periphery, bars pivotally attached withrespect to the vessel below the cover and movable'up into the said peripheral openings of'the cover,lever means. for seating on the cover below the upperend of the bar, roller-means carried on saidlever means so as to engage the top of the cover and spring-means for drawing the bar up. and pressing the lever-means down. on the coverto seatthel-atter on the' vessel. a

4. The combination with a, retortyessel, of a cover for said'vessel said cover having radial openings around its periphery, bars pivotallyattached with respect tothe vessel below. the cover and movable up into the said peripheral openings of the cover, a block on the bar and movable longitudinallytheree on, lever means. having spaced clampingjaws which straddle the block, pivot means extendingthrough the jaws, the block and the bar and spring-means on the bar andpressing thebar and the lever means in reverse directions. e

5. The combination with a retort vessel,

of a cover for'thesame said cover having a radial openinginits periphery, a bar pivotally attached to the vessel below said radial opening said bar'being provided with a threaded upper end'and having a longitudinal slot therein between the pivoted. and threaded ends thereof, a block slidably mounted on the bar, spring means on the threaded end of the bar beyond the block and seated against said block, an operating lever having a clamp-end to seat against the cover and a pivot pin extending through the lever, the block and passing through the slot in the bar.

6. The combination with a retort vessel, of a cover for the same said cover having a radial opening in its periphery, a bar pivotaily attached to the vessel below said radial opening said bar being provided With a threaded upper end and having av 1ongitudinal slot therein between the pivoted and threaded ends thereof, a block slidably mounted on the bar, two springs of unequal strength on the threaded end of the bar, means for adjusting the springs to vary their pressure against the block, a clamping lever at the side of and pivoted With respect to the block and having a clamping face to seat against the cover and a roller device at one side of the block to also engage the cover.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

DANIEL \V. DUDDERAR. 

